I found a set of wheels on craigslist. The diameter is 17 and the width is 9 inches. The offset is +36 and the hub is 73x70.6. They also come with tires that are 255/45R17. I'm gonna be honest I know nothing about wheels and that kind of stuff. I just want to know if these will fit my 1976 Maverick?
A 17x9 is too wide for the front. It will fit the back if the back-spacing is not too much or too little. Forget about "offset" numbers. That is not the same as back-spacing, and it's the back-spacing (in inches; I don't speak metric) that will determine a proper fit (along with bolt pattern, obviously).
mashori has 255 40 17s on 9" wheels on the front of his car. it required the fender lips to be rolled and the front edge of the valance to be trimmed. its all featured in this thread http://www.maverick.to/mmb/showthread.php?t=79878&highlight=mashori+wheels&page=3
he got married and is doing the selling and buying houses thing. he has no time for his car these days.
Still a doctor, I hope? Or did he gravitate to real estate. Nothing wrong with real estate in California. My grandparents made a mint buying and selling since the late 60s, and made triple returns or more with every sale they made. Is he still into the cars? I recall he just obtained a rat-rod. And had a nice mav in the works.
he and his wife had owned very small condos before they got marrried. they are selling those and buy one place. hes still a doc. he sold the ratrod. he got it running and driving. he said it was very scary on the freeway. fun on surface streets.
On a 9" wheel, a +36mm offset is 6.42" backspacing. I think that wheel may interfere with your control arms up front. In the back, I have a feeling they would touch your leaf springs also.
Except that offset and backspacing are not the same thing (no disrespect intended). I've never seen a 9" wheel with a backspacing of more than 5 inches, although I'm sure some exist somewhere. Of course 5 inches of backspacing will not fit a stock Maverick without wheel spacers.